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Saturday, December 21, 2013

Next Up, Spring!

I like this time of year; winter as a whole (never high on my list of
All Time Favorite Seasons) is not so nice, but the days surrounding the hibernal
solstice and—not co-incidentally—Christmas always give me a nice, warm boost. I
like it because I like twilight, that peaceful, reflective hour, as the world
pauses, waiting for nightfall; and at this time of year, it is twilight all the
time. Either that, or it’s dark.

When night squeezes the day into a brief period of grey light and long
shadows, it feels as if you are always on the cusp of evening. Daytime never
really gets the chance to take hold; darkness is always just out of sight, waiting
to engulf you. But there is comfort in the dark, and the more bitter, the better.

In fact, the seam separating the year from “coming off of summer” to “heading
toward summer” should be as bleak and dreary and cold and snowy as possible. What
better way to ensconce oneself in the seasonal siege against the darkness?
Nothing is more jolly than gathering with friends around the fire (or, in a
pinch, just yourself with a re-run of A
Christmas Carol* on the telly) wrapped in a comfy jumper with a steaming
mug of mulled cider in your hand (and if it’s the American non-alcoholic
variety of cider, make sure you pour a healthy dollop of rum into it) while apocalyptic
weather rattles the window panes.

What could be more comforting than a friendly pub with a roaring fire?

This, of course, is the impetus behind the old Pagan winter festivals,
and why Christmas was moved here (get over it) and why enough other major religions
have festivals at this time of year to make us self-flagellate for inadvertently
wishing someone a “Merry Christmas.” It’s simple human nature to want to gather
together, light a fire for celebration and warmth, get good and drunk, eat
ourselves sick and basically hold up two fingers (or, for you folks in the US,
just the middle one will do) to the darkness.

I did a Google search for "warm jumper/sweater" and got this; the jumperlooks warm enough, but I think she's missing the point.

As for myself, it is currently just
after noon as I write this, but it is murky and drizzly outside with a wind
brisk enough to make up for the fact that we don’t have any actual snow or ice
to complain about. It’s perfect weather for a trek to the pub, where the fire
will be blazing and the festive lights twinkling.

And, if I’m particularly fortunate,
they might have mulled cider on offer.

* The real one, with Alastair
Sim as Scrooge, and make sure it’s in glorious Black and White, not that
colorized bastardization.

Copyright Notice

I wrote all this stuff, but if you want to use some of it feel free, as long as you credit me and, if possible, link back to this blog. Notifying me would be nice, too, so I could link to you, as well.

If you feel you must steal some of this stuff and pass it off as your own, I can't stop you, but you're only bringing bad karma on yourself, so don't say I didn't warn you.